44 Perfect Wedding Ceremony Programs

By Sarah Schreiber
July 27, 2011
The Great Romance

Ceremony programs are one of your first opportunities to make an impression on your guests.

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Emilia Jane Photography

Ceremony programs give your wedding guests insight into your big day. That's why we like to think of these paper products as so much more than just that—they're kind of like a cheat sheet to your big day. Whether you like the look of signs, individual booklets, or even palm leaves, these guides are a great way to welcome, inform, and thank guests.

The best part of designing your programs? No one style fits all. With so much room for personalization, there's hardly any for error, which is why programs often serve as a creative, fun wedding detail. Commemorate the exact spot of your vows by having an illustrator add your wedding arch to the front of a booklet. Looking for something more rustic? Adorn a distressed door with bright frames filled with everything guests need to know. From watercolor signs and repurposed vintage desks to letter boards and window panes, ceremony program inspiration is virtually everywhere you look.

That's not to say that you have to go rogue in the program department, though. Dress up traditional paper versions by attaching them to whicker fans (summer wedding guests will thank you!), string them together with pretty ribbon, or print them in a meaningful pattern—we're obsessed with this couple's programs that matched the pouch that held their wedding bands. Programs are a small part of your wedding ceremony—compared to heartfelt vows and that first kiss, they might even seem like an afterthought. However small, they're a chance to tell your loved ones your story, and the stories of those who helped you get to this defining moment. Like the rest of your nuptials, make your programs count.

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Wooden Wonder

Brett Heidebrecht

Paper Daisies Stationery created a wooden program poster that was as pretty as it was informative. Guests received all the information they needed before taking their seats.

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Whimsical Watercolor

The Great Romance
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Sweet script text, a blush pink highlight, and a spray of modern flowers make this playful wedding sign stand out.

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Monogrammed Beauty

Mike Cassimatis
26 Monogram Wedding Ideas We Love

How pretty was the subtle floral pattern on this couple's monogrammed ceremony program?

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Flower Pop

Melissa Schollaert Photography

Moody gray programs get a burst of brightness thanks to a pink and tangerine floral design—perfect for a late summer wedding.

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Block the Aisle

Austin Gros Photography
39 Seasonal Ideas for a Fall Wedding

Keep paper programs from blowing away in the breeze with monochrome blocks—providing rolled up blankets doesn't hurt either, especially if the day is particularly chilly.

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Simple & Understated

Anna Shackleford

Sometimes the best option is one that's simple and understated. These programs were finished with the couple's monogram and a floral wreath design.

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Vintage Desk

Tracy Enoch Photography

A vintage desk, modernized with the addition of overgrown florals and an industrial lantern, served as the perfect backdrop for this southern bride's chalkboard wedding itinerary.

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Sky High

Lauren Fair Photography
DIY Balloon Wedding Décor

A ceremony sign goes sky high (and becomes Instagram-worthy) thanks to oversized circle balloons tied with a vibrant tassel. 

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Scroll Through

Esther Louise Photography

Featuring loopy calligraphy and paper flower bursts at the top, this bride's oversized ceremony scroll was an unconventional—but breathtaking—alternative to individual programs.

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Leafy Green

Brandon Kidd Photography
Island Time: 33 Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love

This couple took a note from their Hawaiian destination wedding and used a large fan palm leaf (move over, chalk boards!) as their ceremony program. Gold calligraphy offered the prettiest contrast against the leaf's cheery green.

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Frame-Worthy

Plum & Oak Photo

This bride combined something old and new with this vintage frame program. Adding a spray of blooms—we're loving the juxtaposition of burgundy roses and soft green eucalyptus—brought the frame right into the 21st century.

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Eucalyptus Garland

J. Layne Photography

Chalkboard wedding signs are most definitely a trend, but this bride made it her own by adding a string of fragrant eucalyptus. Loosely draped, a greenery garland adds subtle sophistication.

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Bird of a Feather

Carrie Patterson
How to Approach Your Wedding with a Minimalist Mindset

This bride's mother and brother worked together to hot glue single feathers to wedding programs. The result? A textured, natural effect that brought an interesting touch to an otherwise minimal look.

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Distressed Door

Brandy Angel Photography

At a rustic Georgia ceremony, an old, distressed door became a unique program prop when adorned with framed blurbs about the couple's wedding party and love story.

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Gold Leaf

Kayla Barker

On their big day, Aften and Travers offset a gold-leaf laurel program, calligraphed by Whitney Farnsworth Calligraphy & Design, with the real thing. Presenting the programs with fresh flowers, greenery, and halved figs upped the drama factor (and looked so good in photos!). 

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Mirrored

Jon Cu Photography

Thanks to a white dry-erase pen (and masterful calligraphy skills!), a vintage mirror became the ultimate ceremony prop.

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Woven Fans

Marni Rothschild Pictures
13 Destination Wedding Favors

For her South Carolina nuptials, this bride kept her guests comfortable by fitting ceremony programs onto wide whicker hand fans—which also doubled as wedding favors.

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Through the Window

Sposto Photography

Strategic spray-painting and pretty handwriting meant a repurposed window pane became the perfect rustic ceremony program. 

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Letter Board

Mandee Johnson Photography

At a minimalist Palm Springs wedding, a trendy letter board sign (yep, the same ones you're seeing all over Instagram) welcomed friends and family as they gathered for the ceremony. 

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Print Motif

Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography

Printed using the same pattern as the pouch that carried their wedding rings, Sarah and Greg's programs brought their ceremony's aesthetic together.

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Mini Signs

Tec Petaja

Nikki and Kiff set up several mini signs (which featured a map and itinerary) throughout the grounds of their sprawling Michigan venue to keep guests on track and on time.

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Door Décor

Wild Whim Design & Photography
8 Tips for Throwing a Party at a Restaurant

Hosting your wedding at a restaurant? Consider covering the exterior door with an oversized greeting sign. Simples adds, like an itinerary or a description of who's who in the wedding party, would make this unique sign the perfect program. 

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Soft Edges

Tenth and Grace

Thanks to Seniman Calligraphy, this program booklet's frayed edges and calligraphed monogram brought a vintage, Old-world element to a desert ceremony.

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Chalkboard Tree

Katie Stoops Photography

From its mosaic design to its ombré effect and tree illustration, this wedding sign, created by chalk artist Li Prillaman, served as a program and a piece of art at Brittany and Andrew's Virgina ceremony.

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Hand-Drawn Keepsake

James & Schulze

Featuring an illustration of the exact spot where they exchanged vows, this couple's ceremony programs were incredibly personal. The hand-drawn image by Lana's Shop was a sweet, artistic touch in the moment, but also served as a keepsake—a visual reminder of where it all began for the newlyweds.

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Starry Fans

Peer Johnson

These programs were unique two-sided paper fans—one side with a star map illustrating the precise view of the night sky the evening of the wedding and the other side outlining the ceremony and festivities to follow.

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Chalkboard State

Joe Goger

A simple illustration of Texas added a personal touch to Leah and Michael's chalkboard display.

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Something Blue

Heather Waraksa

These light blue wedding programs, topped with the happy couple's initials, included a short and sweet rundown of the ceremony.